We're Back!!!

Well we made it back on Sunday January 17, at 2 in the morning! It really was a fantastic trip and we are so thankful to all of you who supported us with your prayers and financially! We accomplished a lot of hard work and we were able to build relationships with the children and other workers at the Home.

We pray that God will use the work and the love that we left behind to make a lasting difference in the lives of the children we served.

Continue to check the blog for updates as I will keep fleshing out the blog in the coming days.

Thanks again for all your support!

Trent

Steph and Michelle

The Team Continues to work hard!

Yesterday we finished hanging the drop ceiling in the new library and we also finished the landscaping on the new property. Today Jeff and his hard working crew will be wrapping up the paving stones. We have a couple to projects to work on today and hope to wrap those up plus a couple other odds and ends.

Thank you so much for checking out our blog and supporting us with your prayers this week!

Landscaping

Ceiling Work

Working Hard

El Pacaya

On Tuesday we had a great opportunity to take some of the kids from the Children's home on a hike up an active volcano. We had no idea how grueling the trek would be but as you can see in the photos, it was all worth it. It took about 4 hours to get to the top where we roasted marshmallow over the lava. It was a great time to spend with the children form the home who don't get the opportunity to do such things without us.

It really was quite amazing to see the blend of power and beauty in God's creation! There were several times in the course of the trek that we just paused in awe at what we were experiencing. We were often reminded of several of the Psalms as we climbed and it gave new meaning to "His rod and staff they comfort me." We took walking sticks with us from the base camp and they really came in handy as we climbed over volcanic rocks.

Pacaya

Pacaya

Pacaya

Pacaya

Kiddos

Kiddos

Kiddos

Kids lend a hand

Since the kids aren't in school right now they like to pitch in when they can.

Adios y via con Dios! / Goodbye & Go with God!

On a sadder note, it had been a long time since some of the children had moved on and left the children's home. When we got here on Thursday we were saddened to note that several of the children have moved on. Oswaldo, Franki, Debora, Yessica, Karla, and Edgar have all left since we were here in July. It is sad to see them go but we are thankful that they had the blessing of being here to be influenced by Kendon & Wendy and the the other here at the home. We trust in God now to make the seeds that were sown here grow and blossom into His beautiful creation!

Pavers oh my!

Many of the veterans of trips to Guatemala (Dave Snyder & Diane Fauth) can relate when I say Pavers oh my! Because confronting a giant stack of pavers is alot like running into Lions, Tigers or Bears in the wilderness. The team just jumped right in and tackled them though. We have one large area and several smaller one that will need paved with this large concrete pavers. Each one is about 5 inches thick and weighs about 20 pounds.

Landscaping in the Garden of Eden

We started a landscaping project Friday as well. The new side of the property is pretty barren due to all the new construction. In the middle of the new dorms and buildings they have placed a square that will eventually grow into a beautiful garden. We have affectionately labeled this the Garden of Eden for it will be an oasis in the middle of a desolate place. Some of the team are working hard to spread topsoil and transplant grass to make improvements to the Garden of Eden.

Cielo Falsa/Drop Ceiling

One project we have, is to install a drop ceiling in one of the old dorms that they are converting into a library for the school and the home. The big challenge here was that the beams drop 5 inches from the walls to the center of the room. An interesting note... the ceiling tiles are made from cut down pieces of drywall.

Hit the ground running

We got started on work projects bright and early Friday morning. The Home has a new missionary couple, Tommy & Marilyn Todd. Tommy's role is to help work teams be productive and act as a foreman while we're here. he had several jobs lined up for us with all of our material and tools ready before we got here. So when we hit the job sites at 7am we were able to jump right in!

Directors Home

They've begun work on the new home Kendon & Wendy will occupy. They're hoping to be finished this Fall.

Alejandra

Alejandra greeted us as we toured the house.

Travel Day

Thanks to everyone for their prayers! The trip was uneventful and we went through security quick & easy! After we arrived in Guatemala and got settled in our rooms, we took a tour of the Children's Home then enjoyed dinner with the kids.

We Made It!

We made it safe and sound! Look for pictures and updates starting tomorrow!

The team is ready

Thanks for checking out the blog site for the Servants January 2010 mission trip to Guatemala. There will be eleven of us on the team and we are very excited about what God has in store for us as we go to serve the Children of the New Life Children's Home in Villa Nueva Guatemala. Please pray for us as we make final preparations for the Journey ahead.

Trent Davis

Larry Hinkle

Doreen Hinkle

Jeff Poff

Lee Poff

Karli Wagner

Barbara Shultz

Lori Snyder

AJ Snyder

Molly Puglese

Steph Burns